The Orlando Solar Bears’ defense took a bit of a hit Wednesday with defenseman Zach Bell called up to the Toronto Marlies.
The Orlando Solar Bears announced defender Zach Bell has been called up to the Toronto Marlies, further deepening a defensive gap with the team. The second call up of the season after starting goalie Rob Madore got the call up to Toronto. UPDATE: Madore has been sent back down to Orlando, the team announced Wednesday.
Bell appeared in all eight games for Orlando so far this season, totaling one assist and a -1 plus-minus rating.
The news of Bell moving up to Toronto is largely a good one. After all, the Solar Bears are part of the Maple Leafs farm system and family tree. Their main job is to develop players and move them on through the system to the Marlies.
This is part of the job for Anthony Noreen. As big a part as winning games.
In the immediate sense, though, the Orlando Solar Bears are in something of a pickle.
For the last three or four games, Orlando has dressed just five defensemen — Benden Miller, Eric Baier, Brad Richard, Mark Louis and Zach Bell. Other players on the roster have been scratched and Myles Harvey has been out for the entire season to this point. Max Nicastro and Carl Nielsen have been scratches throughout the season.
Typically teams carry six defenders and have three lines of two defenders each. The added minutes having to fill in for just one missing defender can be quite daunting.
The Solar Bears are giving up 3.1 goals per game. And particularly because Orlando plays an aggressive style that tries to put pressure on offensive players to create turnovers and get back down the ice, the lack of bodies and depth is hurting Orlando.
There is good news however.
Nicastro and Nielsen are close to returning from their injury, coach Anthony Noreen said following Sunday’s loss to the Florida Everblades.
“It’s tough and it’s the position we’re in,” Noreen said after Sunday’s game. “And I have found out pretty quickly at this level there is going to be times you are going to be short up the front, short in the back and short in net. Those five did a really good job. Long term you can’t play that way. We’re hoping we get a couple guys back here soon.”
Noreen said Sunday that Nielsen is getting closer to returning from his injury every day and that Nicastro could have played Sunday if it were a Playoff game, but the team decided to play things safe and hold him out.
It would seem to be a safe bet for Nicastro to be in uniform for the first time this season when Orlando hosts the Idaho Steelheads at the Amway Center on Thursday night.
They will need him and for the defense to continue making strides as the season progresses.
